Andrew m



( No Model.)

Y A. M. LEWELLEN.

HOOK.

Patented Feb. 19, 1889.

INVENTOR- J Walden) .izzdmw/IZI WITNESSES,

By his Attorney .0. Maw. %@.&' I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDRE M. LEWVELLEN, OF R-OSENDALE, MISSOURI.

HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 398,060, dated February 19, 1889.

Application filed February 20, 1888. Serial No. 264,669. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ANDREW M. LEWELLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rosendale, in the county of Andrew and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Hooks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to hooks.

The object is to provide a hook which at the desired moment will automatically disengage itself from the object to which it is attached, thus obviating the necessity of releasing it therefrom by hand.

The invention resides in a hook comprising a main portion or shank, from which projects an arm forming a means for sustan'ing the object to which the hook is attached, and a spring fixed to the shank and embracing the projection, the whole being so arranged that when weight is taken from the hook the spring will act to release the projection from the object to which it is attached.

In the accompanying drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 represents a side view of a depending hook, the spring being held in position to receive the load. Fig. 2 represents a similar view with the spring depressed by the weight of the load, the load being still carried thereon. 3 representsasimilar-view illustrating the position assumed by the spring when it has disengaged the hook from the load.

A designates a bar forming the main portion of the device and corresponding to the shank of an ordinary hook. At its upper end an eye, a, is formed upon it for the attachment of a rope, strap, or chain. Extending from this bar near its lower end is an arm, a, corresponding to the lower curved portion of an ordinary hook, and which may be curved npward,.as here shown, or may be made of any other convenient form.

Secured upon one side of the bar, near its top, is a fiat spring, B, the free end of which embraces the portion a Upon the extreme end of the spring is hinged a catch, 17, in the form of a link or a plate having an opening therein. The lower end of the bar A bears a notch, as shown at a which, when the spring is depressed to the position it occupies when set to recei e the load, is engaged by the catch, which holds the spring in such position until the hook is attached to the load. As the weight of the load is brought to bear against the spring, owing to the incline of the curved arm, it is forced backward against the side of the bar A, which at once disengages the catch from the notch, the catch falling therefrom by its own weight. When the load has reached the position in which it is desired to have it deposited, its weight being removed from the hook, the springing to its normal position (shown in Fig. 3) disengages the hook from the load and acts as a shield to prevent it from again catching upon any object until the spring is once more depressed and secured, as described.

Such a hook may be variously employed, but is especially applicable to depositing coffins and caskets in graves, where it obviates the necessity of descending into the grave to remove the ropes, straps, or the like with which the coffin is lowered.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire Letters Patent, is

1. A hook consisting of the main portion or shank, the projection forming the hook, and the spring attached to the shank extending beyond and embracing the projection, the said spring being arranged, substantially as described, to be in the rear of and bear upon any object to which the hook is attached.

2. A hook comprising a shank, a projection to secure bytherefrom serving as a hook, and a spring arranged contiguous to the projection and provided with a loop attached to the free end of the spring, designed to engage the end of the shank, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW M. LEVVELLEN.

WVitn esses:

J. H. WATSON, W. A. ENNIS. 

